marsters



No. 623,728. Patented Apr. 25, I899.

J. F. MABSTEBS.

W H|STI .E OR CALL. (Application filed Aug. 16, 1898.)

M40 Modal.)

Tm; mums PETERS co. PHuTo-umo" WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATESPATENT Orrica.

JAMES F. MARSTERS, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

WHISTLE OR CALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,728, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed August 16, 1898. Serial No- 688,'789. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MARSTERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in XVhistles or Calls, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to improvements in whistles or calls, and relates more particularlyto that class designed especially for imitating the notes or calls of birds.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the whistle. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in a different relation, and Figs. 4 and 5 views illustrating certain modifications.

The object of my invention is to providea whistle or call capable of producing notes or tones like unto the notesor calls of certain birds, the whistle being designed more especially for use of sportsmen in calling birds.

In the accompanying drawings, A denotes the body of the call, preferably cylindrical in cross-section and having secured to its upper end a cap-piece or cover B, provided with a central opening or aperture 0. Said opening 0 is preferably defined by a downwardlyextending lip or flange D, though this formation is not essential. It is manifest that instead of forming the body and cappiece separately they may be made integral-stamped out of one piece oii metal.

Secured to the cap-piece B is a tube E, the inner end of the tube being somewhat smaller and terminating in line with the opening C.

Said tube preferably inclines slightly upward from the cap-piece, as indicated, and terminates in a lip-piece or flange F, by which the person using the call can readily retain it in his month without keeping the lips or teeth tightly closed upon the tube.

Mounted into the lower end of the body portions A is a plug G, designed to make a mechanical fit with the body portion and to be moved. up and down therein. As shown, said plug is closed at its upper end and is likewise closed at its lower end, the bottom piece being provided with a knurled edge a to present a surface easy to grasp when it is desired to draw the plug down.

To facilitate the upward movement of the plug, the bottom piece is slightly depressed, forming a space for the reception of the end or cushion of the thumb, which is in practice used for forcing the plug upwardly into the body A.

In Fig. 2 the plug is shown in its lowermost position, and under such condition the tone derived will be comparatively low. Now by shoving the plug upwardly the air-chamber within the body portion becomes restricted and the notes or tones take a higher pitch. During this upward movement the tones of course vary, growing gradually higher for each fraction of movement, while, of course, if the movement of the plug is reversed the tones will go from the high to the low.

By manipulating the plug one can soon learn to imitate various bird-calls with ease.

To provide for a quick movement of the plug during the last portion of the upward movement, the outer wall of the plug may be slightly depressed or forced inward, as at b, Fig. 4, which depression permits a quick upward movement without extra pressure being required. The lower end or edge of the body portion A is where this construction of the plug is used and which is illustrated more particularly in Fig. 4: slightly turned in, the

body of the plug working against the edge only, so that when this inturned portion reaches the recess 1) the plug will be relieved of a certain amount of friction and move up with a quick throw. This quick or sudden throw of the plug gives that quick slurring crescendo quite common in bird-calls.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a construction similar to that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive; but in addition to said parts I'have interposed a spring II, the upper end of which bears against the top B around the depending flange or lip D, the lower end of the spring resting upon the head of the plug G. If desired, the head of said plug may be provided with a slight projection I to hold the lower end of the spring in place, or the spring may be soldered or otherwise connected to the plug. The action of the spring is to force the plug outwardly, and it should be made of such length as to simply force the plug to the lower end of the shell or body portion A.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the plug as formed with an external thread designed to enter a thread of like pitch formed upon the interior face of the shell A. IVith this construction the plug may be raised or lowered by simply turning it, or it may be adjusted to any desired position and left in said adjusted position, although in practice it is designed, of course, to be moved up and down.

lVith the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 the plug G maybe adjusted to any desired point and left in said adjustment, the parts fitting so neatly as to remain in the position in which they are placed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a whistle or call, the combination of a hollowbodyportion open at its lower end, and provided with an aperture at its upper end; a tube secured upon the upper end of the body portion and terminating at or near one side of the aperture; and a plug fitting within the open end of the body portion and movable in and out thereof.

2. In a whistle or call, the combination of a hollow body portion open at one end, and provided at its opposite end with an aperture 0, and a downwardly-extending flange D; a tube E secured upon the body portion and terminating at or near one side of the aperture; and a plug fitting within, and movable in and out of said open end, said plug being provided with a depression in its lower end or face, sub stantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In awhistle or call, the combination of a hollow body portion A provided with an ap' erture C having a depending fiangeD; atube E secured to the top and having at its outer end a lip or flange I and a plug G provided with a depressed base, substantially as described, said. plug fitting within and movable in and out of the open end of the body portion.

4:. In a whistle or call, the combination of a hollow cylindrical body portion A, provided with an opening at its upper end; a tube secured to the top and terminating at one side of the opening; and a plug fitted and movable within the open end of said body, said plug being formed with a depressed portion extending around the same at or near its base, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a whistle or call, the combination of a hollow body portion open at its lower end, and provided with an aperture at its upper end; a tube secured upon the end of the body portion and terminating at or near one side of the aperture; a plug fitting within the open end of the body portion and movable in and out thereof; and a spring for forcing the plug downwardly.

6. In a whistle or call, the combination of a hollow body portion open at its lower end, and provided with an aperture at its upper end; a flange or lip D extending down from said aperture; a tube secured upon the upper end of the body portion and terminating at or near one side of said aperture; a plug fitting within the open end of the body portion and movable in and out thereof; and a spring interposed between the upper end of the body portion and the upperend or side of the movable plug.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. MARSTERS.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK Kou'run, G. L. DEAN. 

